Sleep Disorders
Consider yourself blessed if you have never faced difficulty sleeping. A sound sleep is among world's greatest pleasures. While some can't get a sound sleep, there are others who can't stop oversleeping. An adequate amount of sleep is essential. Inability waking up is as much a sleep disorder as the inability to sleep well. Here, we give you information about the different sleeping disorders and ways to treat them.
What Causes Exploding Head Syndrome
Exploding head syndrome is an unusual sleep disorder that is characterized by the sensation of a loud bang or explosive noise in the head during sleep-wake transitions. This Buzzle write-up provides information on the causes of this sleep disorder.
Exploding head syndrome is an unusual sleep disorder that is characterized by the sensation of a loud bang or explosive noise in the head during sleep-wake transitions. This Buzzle write-up provides information on the causes of this sleep disorder.
The term 'parasomnia' refers to disruptive events involving
abnormal physical movements or behavior that occurs during certain
stages of sleep or the sleep-wake transitions. These events can either
occur when one is asleep or when one is about to fall asleep or wake up.
According to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders,
parasomnias are classified into three categories. These include
disorders of arousal, parasomnias that are associated with REM sleep,
and other parasomnias. The 'Exploding Head Syndrome' is placed in the
third category.
Individuals who are affected by this condition often complain about hearing loud noises that are likened to the noise of a explosion or gunshot within the head, which causes such individuals to wake up. Also referred to as an auditory sleep start, this event should not be confused with night terrors, nightmares, or hypnic jerks. Though this condition is not as serious as it might sound and doesn't cause any physical harm, it can disrupt one's sleep. In some cases, the affected individual might experience intense fear and anxiety on waking up.
Contributing Factors
A relatively undocumented parasomnia event, EHS has mostly been observed in people above the age of 50. However, it has also been reported in a child aged 10. While identifying the underlying cause of most parasomnia events, sleep specialists often look for possible triggers, which might include:
➠ Use of medicines with CNS-related adverse effects (Sedative hypnotics, beta blockers, SSRIs, and tricyclic antidepressants)
➠ Use of non-pharmacological drugs with CNS-related side effects (nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and illicit drugs)
➠ Withdrawal of REM-suppressing drugs
➠ Stress or anxiety
➠ Depression or other mental illness
➠ Dementia or confusion in older people
➠ Other sleep disorders (sleep apnea, night terrors, narcolepsy, etc.)
It must be noted that the exact cause of the exploding head syndrome is not known. However, it is believed that this syndrome might be triggered by:
➠ Extreme Fatigue and Stress
Excessive fatigue and stress can certainly have an adverse effect on one's sleep cycle, which in turn can make one susceptible to sleep-related disorders or parasomnia events. It has been observed that the incidence or episodes of sleepwalking or sleep talking increase when a person is under extreme stress. There have been certain case studies that point towards the possibility of stress being a risk factor for this syndrome.
➠ Minor Seizures in the Temporal Lobe
Researchers are of the opinion that partial seizures in the temporal lobe, which is the part of the brain that receives sensory auditory information from the ears, and is involved in auditory perception or hearing, might be responsible for causing such auditory sleep starts.
➠ Sudden Movement of the Middle Ear or the Eustachian Tube
It is believed that sudden involuntary movement of the eardrum or tensor tympani, which is a small muscle in the middle ear, could be a contributing factor. When a loud sound is heard, the tensor tympani muscle contracts or pulls away the small bones in the middle ear from the eardrum, thereby reducing the vibration of the small bones. This helps reduce the amplitude of loud sounds. The Eustachian tubes connect the middle ears to the nasopharynx. These play an important role in equalizing air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. It is speculated that the sudden movement of this tube could be a contributing factor for EHS.
➠ Sudden Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines and SSRIs
Benzodiazepines is a class of psychoactive drugs prescribed for treating anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia, etc., whereas Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants that are prescribed for the treatment of depression, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, etc. Benzodiazepines can be habit-forming and sudden withdrawal can cause adverse effects. Sudden discontinuation of benzodiazepines and SSRIs has been linked to EHS.
Symptoms
According to Dr. Pearce, this phenomenon might not be as rare as it is believed to be, as a majority of the cases might be going unreported. Dr. Pearce conducted a detailed study of 50 patients affected by this syndrome, in 1989, for analyzing the symptoms. The characteristic symptoms of EHS is a loud bang that seems to originate from the head. The noise is usually loud, but can vary in intensity. One might sense a noise that sounds like an:
➠ Explosion
➠ Gunshot
➠ Clash of cymbals
➠ Doors being slammed
➠ Thunderclap
➠ Loud metallic noise
➠ Lightning
➠ Ringing noise
➠ Roar
At times, the affected individual might also sense bright flashes of light with the noise. Other symptoms that one is likely to experience on waking up might include:
➠ Labored breathing
➠ Anxiety
➠ Intense fear
➠ Palpitations
➠ Elevated heart rate
It must be noted that the affected person is not likely to experience pain. In some cases, attacks might recur, with fluctuations in the frequency. At times, there might be a long period of remission after a one-time event. In some cases, the episodes might occur several times over a long period. In severe cases, when the affected person experiences multiple attacks and wakes up with extreme fear or panic, he/she can be at a risk of developing sleep-onset insomnia.
On a concluding note, the exploding head syndrome is a condition with unknown etiology, and there's no specific exploding head syndrome cure. Once the medical conditions that are considered as differential diagnoses are ruled out and EHS is confirmed, the affected individual is advised to avoid the 'so-called' triggers. In some cases, the use of an antidepressant called clomipramine has been found to be beneficial. Besides managing stress through yoga, breathing exercises, or other effective relaxation techniques, establishing a proper sleep routine will also prove beneficial.
Individuals who are affected by this condition often complain about hearing loud noises that are likened to the noise of a explosion or gunshot within the head, which causes such individuals to wake up. Also referred to as an auditory sleep start, this event should not be confused with night terrors, nightmares, or hypnic jerks. Though this condition is not as serious as it might sound and doesn't cause any physical harm, it can disrupt one's sleep. In some cases, the affected individual might experience intense fear and anxiety on waking up.
Contributing Factors
A relatively undocumented parasomnia event, EHS has mostly been observed in people above the age of 50. However, it has also been reported in a child aged 10. While identifying the underlying cause of most parasomnia events, sleep specialists often look for possible triggers, which might include:
➠ Use of medicines with CNS-related adverse effects (Sedative hypnotics, beta blockers, SSRIs, and tricyclic antidepressants)
➠ Use of non-pharmacological drugs with CNS-related side effects (nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and illicit drugs)
➠ Withdrawal of REM-suppressing drugs
➠ Stress or anxiety
➠ Depression or other mental illness
➠ Dementia or confusion in older people
➠ Other sleep disorders (sleep apnea, night terrors, narcolepsy, etc.)
It must be noted that the exact cause of the exploding head syndrome is not known. However, it is believed that this syndrome might be triggered by:
➠ Extreme Fatigue and Stress
Excessive fatigue and stress can certainly have an adverse effect on one's sleep cycle, which in turn can make one susceptible to sleep-related disorders or parasomnia events. It has been observed that the incidence or episodes of sleepwalking or sleep talking increase when a person is under extreme stress. There have been certain case studies that point towards the possibility of stress being a risk factor for this syndrome.
➠ Minor Seizures in the Temporal Lobe
Researchers are of the opinion that partial seizures in the temporal lobe, which is the part of the brain that receives sensory auditory information from the ears, and is involved in auditory perception or hearing, might be responsible for causing such auditory sleep starts.
➠ Sudden Movement of the Middle Ear or the Eustachian Tube
It is believed that sudden involuntary movement of the eardrum or tensor tympani, which is a small muscle in the middle ear, could be a contributing factor. When a loud sound is heard, the tensor tympani muscle contracts or pulls away the small bones in the middle ear from the eardrum, thereby reducing the vibration of the small bones. This helps reduce the amplitude of loud sounds. The Eustachian tubes connect the middle ears to the nasopharynx. These play an important role in equalizing air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. It is speculated that the sudden movement of this tube could be a contributing factor for EHS.
➠ Sudden Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines and SSRIs
Benzodiazepines is a class of psychoactive drugs prescribed for treating anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia, etc., whereas Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants that are prescribed for the treatment of depression, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, etc. Benzodiazepines can be habit-forming and sudden withdrawal can cause adverse effects. Sudden discontinuation of benzodiazepines and SSRIs has been linked to EHS.
Symptoms
According to Dr. Pearce, this phenomenon might not be as rare as it is believed to be, as a majority of the cases might be going unreported. Dr. Pearce conducted a detailed study of 50 patients affected by this syndrome, in 1989, for analyzing the symptoms. The characteristic symptoms of EHS is a loud bang that seems to originate from the head. The noise is usually loud, but can vary in intensity. One might sense a noise that sounds like an:
➠ Explosion
➠ Gunshot
➠ Clash of cymbals
➠ Doors being slammed
➠ Thunderclap
➠ Loud metallic noise
➠ Lightning
➠ Ringing noise
➠ Roar
At times, the affected individual might also sense bright flashes of light with the noise. Other symptoms that one is likely to experience on waking up might include:
➠ Labored breathing
➠ Anxiety
➠ Intense fear
➠ Palpitations
➠ Elevated heart rate
It must be noted that the affected person is not likely to experience pain. In some cases, attacks might recur, with fluctuations in the frequency. At times, there might be a long period of remission after a one-time event. In some cases, the episodes might occur several times over a long period. In severe cases, when the affected person experiences multiple attacks and wakes up with extreme fear or panic, he/she can be at a risk of developing sleep-onset insomnia.
On a concluding note, the exploding head syndrome is a condition with unknown etiology, and there's no specific exploding head syndrome cure. Once the medical conditions that are considered as differential diagnoses are ruled out and EHS is confirmed, the affected individual is advised to avoid the 'so-called' triggers. In some cases, the use of an antidepressant called clomipramine has been found to be beneficial. Besides managing stress through yoga, breathing exercises, or other effective relaxation techniques, establishing a proper sleep routine will also prove beneficial.
Causes of Sleeping Too Much
Sleep is considered to be the most blissful thing that rejuvenates us from our day-to-day stress and strain. However, it is said that too much of anything is bad, and excessive sleeping too has its ill effects on the body. Elucidated in this write-up are a few reasons and effects of sleeping too much.
Sleep is considered to be the most blissful thing that rejuvenates us from our day-to-day stress and strain. However, it is said that too much of anything is bad, and excessive sleeping too has its ill effects on the body. Elucidated in this write-up are a few reasons and effects of sleeping too much.
f you do not get enough sleep, you will feel tired and exhausted
the whole day. Some people find it hard to sleep during the night, and
instead use the day to get some rest. Sleep has the power to revitalize
the human body, but if you get less or too much sleep, your body will
not respond positively.
The average sleeping time for an adult is eight hours. There are several causes as to why a person sleeps too much -- a condition medically termed as hypersomnia or oversleeping. However, some common causes are stress, lack of self-discipline, and poor sleep in a span of a couple of days. These are some of the temporary causes that can be taken care of with a little willpower and determination. But there are some causes which need to be dealt with clinically, and are not as simple as the temporary ones.
Causes of Oversleeping
Sleep Apnea
Apnea is a Greek term, which means to stop breathing. It is a sleep-related breathing disorder which most commonly affects adults, and is defined with multiple respiratory interruptions or pauses while sleeping. These apneas (pauses) can be of ten seconds or sometimes more when the snoozer completely stops breathing, and this can occur dozens or occasionally up to hundreds of times every night. This condition not only interrupts good quality of sleep, but it is also considered to be a grave and life-threatening sleep disorder. This is because, with due course of time, frequent breaks in the oxygen supply to the brain might result in a heart attack, high blood pressure, or even a stroke. Some of the symptoms of this disorder are dozing off (irrespective of the place), heavy snoring, and headaches in the mornings. The treatment involves certain clinical therapies and lifestyle changes. Sleep apneas are of the following two peculiar kinds:
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) - The brain usually forgets to signal the body to breathe while sleeping. It is not very common, and mostly happens as a result of some serious illness related to the spine or the heart.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - The airway is blocked, leading to interrupted breathing - a more common type of disorder.
Narcolepsy
Unlike sleep apnea, narcolepsy is a neurological disorder which affects a particular part of the brain, which is the control of wakefulness and sleep. It is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable episodes of sleep attacks. People who suffer from narcolepsy fail to identify and distinguish between the time to sleep and the time to remain awake. Such people can fall asleep anywhere and anytime. It is often considered to be a hereditary condition, and it actually changes the lifestyle of a person, where clinical help is a must. A patient of narcolepsy might fall asleep for a few seconds or even an hour, and when these individuals wake up, they feel refreshed and energetic, though this feel-good effect does not last for long. They start feeling sleepy and drowsy again. It is said that narcoleptic patients lack the protein hypocretin -- a neurotransmitter which signals the body to fall asleep.
Depression
Most of the time, other than insomnia, oversleeping is somewhat directly proportionate to depression. Once you wake up from a deep, satisfied sleep, and yet you feel like sleeping again, it is a probable sign of depression. Sleep gives your mind a short break from feeling blue, as it acts as an opiate. The symptoms of depression differ in every individual - a few prefer hiding in bed. A few other indicants of depression would be extreme loss or gain of weight and appetite, feeling of loneliness and detachment, amongst others. Talk to your therapist if you feel low and sad most of the time.
Medications
Hypersomnia can sometimes be a withdrawal symptom of some type of medication. Besides, medicaments prescribed in order to cure another ailment might make a person drowsy and feel the need to sleep all the while. Sometimes, drug abuse, alcohol, and even caffeine might make a person sleep more than the required amount. In such a case, one needs to check the medications they are taking, and avoid the intake of alcohol or caffeine.
Poor Diet
A poor diet or eating a little amount of food can make a person feel tired and sluggish. Eating unhealthy or junk food can lead to drowsiness, and one might feel like napping after a heavy meal. Hence, one needs to follow a diet rich in nutrients, include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in it, and cut down on the intake of junk and greasy food.
Parenting
Infants and small children often keep parents up all night, and this leads to the constant feeling of being sleepy through the day, for the parent that is. Parental assistance prevents a person's body from calming down and relaxing. Even though the parent is sleeping, the subconscious mind remains alert and waits for the kids' call, and this eventually results in excessive sleep.
Ill Effects of Oversleeping
Obesity and Weight Gain
A particular study suggests that people who slept for long hours had around 20% higher risk of being obese than the ones who did not. In this case, the prescribed diet and exercise regime was same for both, excessive sleepers and normal ones.
Diabetes
Individuals who overslept had about 50% more chances of acquiring diabetes as compared to the ones who slept for the recommended amount of time per night. This fact was concluded in a study of around 9,000 Americans. Also, the risk of developing diabetes is similar in people who sleep for less than five hours every night.
A Few More
Sleeping much more than the recommended number of hours can lead to many more health problems. Mentioned below are a few more side effects of oversleeping.
↬ Back pain
↬ Headache
↬ Lethargy
↬ High blood pressure
↬ Coronary heart troubles
Death
Plenty of studies and theories have come to the conclusion that the death rate in individuals who sleep for 9 hours or more every night is higher than the rest. However, there has been no particular reasoning for this excess sleep and death relationship.
How to Prevent This Habit
Set your alarm clock to one fixed time, preferably a little earlier than you actually want to get up. Maintain this schedule everyday, as this would make your mind and body sleep and get up when it is supposed to. To curb the temptation of hitting the snooze button of the alarm clock, place it far away from the bed. This makes it mandatory for you to physically get up to turn the alarm off.
Avert from the habit of napping during the day. Reason being, this can disrupt the circadian rhythms - the biological time of the body, making it difficult to sleep on time at night, and eventually leading to excessive sleeping.
Apart from the above-mentioned tricks, here are a few more tips to help you:
↬ Keep repeating to yourself that you will wake up as soon as the alarm goes off.
↬ Find a refreshing reason to wake up as per schedule everyday.
↬ Gradually decrease the amount of sleeping time.
↬ Do not overexert yourself during the day.
↬ Exercise regularly.
↬ Preferably take a cold shower everyday.
↬ Stick to a light and healthy breakfast.
The average sleeping time for an adult is eight hours. There are several causes as to why a person sleeps too much -- a condition medically termed as hypersomnia or oversleeping. However, some common causes are stress, lack of self-discipline, and poor sleep in a span of a couple of days. These are some of the temporary causes that can be taken care of with a little willpower and determination. But there are some causes which need to be dealt with clinically, and are not as simple as the temporary ones.
Causes of Oversleeping
Sleep Apnea
Apnea is a Greek term, which means to stop breathing. It is a sleep-related breathing disorder which most commonly affects adults, and is defined with multiple respiratory interruptions or pauses while sleeping. These apneas (pauses) can be of ten seconds or sometimes more when the snoozer completely stops breathing, and this can occur dozens or occasionally up to hundreds of times every night. This condition not only interrupts good quality of sleep, but it is also considered to be a grave and life-threatening sleep disorder. This is because, with due course of time, frequent breaks in the oxygen supply to the brain might result in a heart attack, high blood pressure, or even a stroke. Some of the symptoms of this disorder are dozing off (irrespective of the place), heavy snoring, and headaches in the mornings. The treatment involves certain clinical therapies and lifestyle changes. Sleep apneas are of the following two peculiar kinds:
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) - The brain usually forgets to signal the body to breathe while sleeping. It is not very common, and mostly happens as a result of some serious illness related to the spine or the heart.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - The airway is blocked, leading to interrupted breathing - a more common type of disorder.
Narcolepsy
Unlike sleep apnea, narcolepsy is a neurological disorder which affects a particular part of the brain, which is the control of wakefulness and sleep. It is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable episodes of sleep attacks. People who suffer from narcolepsy fail to identify and distinguish between the time to sleep and the time to remain awake. Such people can fall asleep anywhere and anytime. It is often considered to be a hereditary condition, and it actually changes the lifestyle of a person, where clinical help is a must. A patient of narcolepsy might fall asleep for a few seconds or even an hour, and when these individuals wake up, they feel refreshed and energetic, though this feel-good effect does not last for long. They start feeling sleepy and drowsy again. It is said that narcoleptic patients lack the protein hypocretin -- a neurotransmitter which signals the body to fall asleep.
Depression
Most of the time, other than insomnia, oversleeping is somewhat directly proportionate to depression. Once you wake up from a deep, satisfied sleep, and yet you feel like sleeping again, it is a probable sign of depression. Sleep gives your mind a short break from feeling blue, as it acts as an opiate. The symptoms of depression differ in every individual - a few prefer hiding in bed. A few other indicants of depression would be extreme loss or gain of weight and appetite, feeling of loneliness and detachment, amongst others. Talk to your therapist if you feel low and sad most of the time.
Medications
Hypersomnia can sometimes be a withdrawal symptom of some type of medication. Besides, medicaments prescribed in order to cure another ailment might make a person drowsy and feel the need to sleep all the while. Sometimes, drug abuse, alcohol, and even caffeine might make a person sleep more than the required amount. In such a case, one needs to check the medications they are taking, and avoid the intake of alcohol or caffeine.
Poor Diet
A poor diet or eating a little amount of food can make a person feel tired and sluggish. Eating unhealthy or junk food can lead to drowsiness, and one might feel like napping after a heavy meal. Hence, one needs to follow a diet rich in nutrients, include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in it, and cut down on the intake of junk and greasy food.
Parenting
Infants and small children often keep parents up all night, and this leads to the constant feeling of being sleepy through the day, for the parent that is. Parental assistance prevents a person's body from calming down and relaxing. Even though the parent is sleeping, the subconscious mind remains alert and waits for the kids' call, and this eventually results in excessive sleep.
Ill Effects of Oversleeping
Obesity and Weight Gain
A particular study suggests that people who slept for long hours had around 20% higher risk of being obese than the ones who did not. In this case, the prescribed diet and exercise regime was same for both, excessive sleepers and normal ones.
Diabetes
Individuals who overslept had about 50% more chances of acquiring diabetes as compared to the ones who slept for the recommended amount of time per night. This fact was concluded in a study of around 9,000 Americans. Also, the risk of developing diabetes is similar in people who sleep for less than five hours every night.
A Few More
Sleeping much more than the recommended number of hours can lead to many more health problems. Mentioned below are a few more side effects of oversleeping.
↬ Back pain
↬ Headache
↬ Lethargy
↬ High blood pressure
↬ Coronary heart troubles
Death
Plenty of studies and theories have come to the conclusion that the death rate in individuals who sleep for 9 hours or more every night is higher than the rest. However, there has been no particular reasoning for this excess sleep and death relationship.
How to Prevent This Habit
Set your alarm clock to one fixed time, preferably a little earlier than you actually want to get up. Maintain this schedule everyday, as this would make your mind and body sleep and get up when it is supposed to. To curb the temptation of hitting the snooze button of the alarm clock, place it far away from the bed. This makes it mandatory for you to physically get up to turn the alarm off.
Avert from the habit of napping during the day. Reason being, this can disrupt the circadian rhythms - the biological time of the body, making it difficult to sleep on time at night, and eventually leading to excessive sleeping.
Apart from the above-mentioned tricks, here are a few more tips to help you:
↬ Keep repeating to yourself that you will wake up as soon as the alarm goes off.
↬ Find a refreshing reason to wake up as per schedule everyday.
↬ Gradually decrease the amount of sleeping time.
↬ Do not overexert yourself during the day.
↬ Exercise regularly.
↬ Preferably take a cold shower everyday.
↬ Stick to a light and healthy breakfast.
How to Stop Talking in Your Sleep
Talking in one's sleep is a strange phenomenon. Few of us know how to deal with the situation; however, a majority remain clueless. An indicator that your sleep is disturbed, sleep talking, as well, may cause your 'sleeping partner' to skip a heartbeat or two!
Talking in one's sleep is a strange phenomenon. Few of us know how to deal with the situation; however, a majority remain clueless. An indicator that your sleep is disturbed, sleep talking, as well, may cause your 'sleeping partner' to skip a heartbeat or two!
Have you ever been startled by your partner muttering gibberish
while sleeping? You must have been scared out of your wits, and would
never have imagined that your partner could succumb to talking while
asleep. The situation, however serious in nature, could turn anecdotal
when you jump up in bed in the middle of the night, only to realize that
your partner in bed has plundered his rock heavy hand on you with some
onomatopoeic sounds that ... well, sound outer-spaced! This in the
actual, is a condition referred to as somniloquy. This is a sleeping
disorder colloquially called sleep talking. Sleep is an extremely
important part of one's being. Our body is said to have accomplished
some wonderful feats when we are asleep. It is during our sleeping hours
that our body, refurbished from the wear and tear during the day,
rejuvenates and repairs the tired and fatigued tissues of the body. The
brain derives a considerable amount of time to assimilate and sort out
information fed into it. The information that was fed during the day is
digested by the brain cells during the time period we devote to sleep.
It is also during the sleeping hours that our body releases growth
hormones into the system.
Sleep talking in the actual is harmless to the articular. However, it could be extremely annoying and irritating to the person sleeping next to them. There could be episodes of sleep talking that vary in their degree and length of articulations. Some may experience episodes that involve little mutterings, and some may indulge in full-fledged, exotic conversations. It becomes all the more frustrating when your partner is calmly uttering gibberish in a singular monotone with a heavy baritone. Though a rare phenomenon, however, some sleep talkers have been known to yell, scream and shout at the top of their voices, and frighten those around them.
What Causes Somniloquy
Sleep talking is a part of the sleeping disorder parasomnia. It is primarily caused by non-restful or unfulfilled sleep stages. A characteristic that we often witness is the explicit display of a plethora of activities in their sleep. This may involve the individual in sleepwalking, sleep talking, teeth grinding, and night terrors. Some people may also experience jerks in their body while they sleep. They may thrash pillows, comforters or any bedding accessory that they come across, that is worth devouring. This is so because the person is not fully able to fall asleep. The partner sleeping next to the sleep talker could suddenly feel tremors as the bed shakes and juggles. However, one may get to know gradually that it is none other than your partner playing movers and shakers. Children are known to talk in their sleep, more than adults do. This is due to the fact that their brains have not matured fully and they endure incomplete sleep cycles. Sleep talking in children will disappear as age progresses. Till then, parents have to suffer mini heart tremors every time they hear winded story narrations from their child. Children and adults who talk in their sleep never remember that they did talk in the first place, and are caught by utter disbelief and surprise when the one who endured the tales, narrates the instances to them.
Ways to Curb Sleep Talking
First and foremost, let the person get enough sleep. Having a peaceful sleep could help the person feel rejuvenated. It is when you are extremely tired and fatigued that the talker in you gets a high.
Try to organize and have a fixed schedule of sleeping. Fix a time for going to bed and rising the next morning. Erratic sleeping timetables can cause you to talk in your sleep.
Try not to consume a heavy meal before bedtime. Eat well; however, avoid overeating. After you are done with your meal, relax for a few minutes and then go to bed.
If your partner sleep talks, try not to nag him to stop talking and go off to bed silently. Sleep talking can be annoying for the listening partner, however, this could disturb your partners already disturbed sleep even more.
Monitor your stress levels and try to cut down on your anxiety meters. Let positive thoughts linger in your mind.
To manage leg kicking and jerking of one's body suddenly during sleep, see a health care provider, who will most likely ask for a medical history. He might prescribe certain iron supplements to treat anemia, potassium supplements to treat cramping and spasms in the legs, or even administer sleeping pills.
Cut back on or eliminate caffeine and nicotine, and reduce your alcohol consumption too.
Relaxation exercises, such as meditation and yoga, are natural sleep inducers as they provide peace to the mind. You need to keep calm during the day and relax as the evening approaches.
You may also take up your favorite sport or hit the gym, whichever pleases your senses, to divulge the sleep mumbler in you.
Sleep talking in the actual is harmless to the articular. However, it could be extremely annoying and irritating to the person sleeping next to them. There could be episodes of sleep talking that vary in their degree and length of articulations. Some may experience episodes that involve little mutterings, and some may indulge in full-fledged, exotic conversations. It becomes all the more frustrating when your partner is calmly uttering gibberish in a singular monotone with a heavy baritone. Though a rare phenomenon, however, some sleep talkers have been known to yell, scream and shout at the top of their voices, and frighten those around them.
What Causes Somniloquy
Sleep talking is a part of the sleeping disorder parasomnia. It is primarily caused by non-restful or unfulfilled sleep stages. A characteristic that we often witness is the explicit display of a plethora of activities in their sleep. This may involve the individual in sleepwalking, sleep talking, teeth grinding, and night terrors. Some people may also experience jerks in their body while they sleep. They may thrash pillows, comforters or any bedding accessory that they come across, that is worth devouring. This is so because the person is not fully able to fall asleep. The partner sleeping next to the sleep talker could suddenly feel tremors as the bed shakes and juggles. However, one may get to know gradually that it is none other than your partner playing movers and shakers. Children are known to talk in their sleep, more than adults do. This is due to the fact that their brains have not matured fully and they endure incomplete sleep cycles. Sleep talking in children will disappear as age progresses. Till then, parents have to suffer mini heart tremors every time they hear winded story narrations from their child. Children and adults who talk in their sleep never remember that they did talk in the first place, and are caught by utter disbelief and surprise when the one who endured the tales, narrates the instances to them.
Ways to Curb Sleep Talking
First and foremost, let the person get enough sleep. Having a peaceful sleep could help the person feel rejuvenated. It is when you are extremely tired and fatigued that the talker in you gets a high.
Try to organize and have a fixed schedule of sleeping. Fix a time for going to bed and rising the next morning. Erratic sleeping timetables can cause you to talk in your sleep.
Try not to consume a heavy meal before bedtime. Eat well; however, avoid overeating. After you are done with your meal, relax for a few minutes and then go to bed.
If your partner sleep talks, try not to nag him to stop talking and go off to bed silently. Sleep talking can be annoying for the listening partner, however, this could disturb your partners already disturbed sleep even more.
Monitor your stress levels and try to cut down on your anxiety meters. Let positive thoughts linger in your mind.
To manage leg kicking and jerking of one's body suddenly during sleep, see a health care provider, who will most likely ask for a medical history. He might prescribe certain iron supplements to treat anemia, potassium supplements to treat cramping and spasms in the legs, or even administer sleeping pills.
Cut back on or eliminate caffeine and nicotine, and reduce your alcohol consumption too.
Relaxation exercises, such as meditation and yoga, are natural sleep inducers as they provide peace to the mind. You need to keep calm during the day and relax as the evening approaches.
You may also take up your favorite sport or hit the gym, whichever pleases your senses, to divulge the sleep mumbler in you.
Sleep Talking
Sleep talking, as the name suggests, is a disorder wherein people talk during sleep without the knowledge of it. Read this article for more information about the symptoms, causes and treatment of this disorder.
Sleep talking, as the name suggests, is a disorder wherein people talk during sleep without the knowledge of it. Read this article for more information about the symptoms, causes and treatment of this disorder.
The utterance of speech or sounds during sleep without being aware
of the event is known as sleep talking. This is not an uncommon problem,
especially in children. Also known as Somniloquy, it can occur at any
point in the sleep cycle. Also, it is a fact that the lighter the sleep
the more understandable the speech. It is said that during the early
stages of sleep people may have entire conversations while in deeper
sleep, this may be restricted to moans and nonsense.
People who talk while asleep are mostly not aware of the fact. The factors that are often responsible for sleep talking are anxiety disorders, strain, and fevers. In most cases, this disorder is not serious and can be resolved over time or with age. Of course, sometimes it has been associated with other sleep disorders, this is the only time when it could become serious.
Social humiliation is often the most serious outcome of sleep talking or somniloquy, as a lot of unintentional information is verbalized. There are times when it also disturbs the sleep of the affected person or the bed partner. It is in situations like this that further evaluation should be considered.
What are the symptoms associated with sleep talking?
It is often accompanied by muttering or speaking during sleep. There are times when speaking and muttering is accompanied by moaning, singing and shouting.
What are the causes of sleep talking?
It can occur at any stage of sleep. It is not only when a person is dreaming. Mostly it occurs during the NREM sleep, i.e, Non rapid eye movement sleep. It may be associated with:
Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders.
Medical disorders like febrile illness (fever).
Sleep disorders such as obstructive apnea syndrome, sleep-walking, or REM sleep behavior disorder.
Other factors that affect the behavior of a sleep talker are stress, fever, some medications and it may even be due to substance abuse.
What does the treatment for sleep talking include?
Sleep hygiene - Where the patient is educated to avoid drugs, alcohol and sleep deprivation.
Medications - This program includes teaching the patient about the usage of antidepressants or sleeping pills to promote sleep.
Cognitive behavioral therapy - In this program the patient is provided with effective, long-term strategies to overcome anxiety or stress.
Tips to reduce sleep talking
Reduce stress levels as much as possible.
Do not partake of a heavy meal before bedtime.
Follow a proper sleep routine.
Get proper rest as deficiency of sleep increases somniloquy.
It is advised that when a person is sleep talking, do not try to wake them suddenly. That will cause disorientation and confusion in the mind of the sleep talker. It is believed that more than 50% children and almost 5% adults talk in their sleep. So, it is nothing to be worried about. But if the person shows violent behavior when asleep or screams and shouts, it is best to consult a doctor immediately.
People who talk while asleep are mostly not aware of the fact. The factors that are often responsible for sleep talking are anxiety disorders, strain, and fevers. In most cases, this disorder is not serious and can be resolved over time or with age. Of course, sometimes it has been associated with other sleep disorders, this is the only time when it could become serious.
Social humiliation is often the most serious outcome of sleep talking or somniloquy, as a lot of unintentional information is verbalized. There are times when it also disturbs the sleep of the affected person or the bed partner. It is in situations like this that further evaluation should be considered.
What are the symptoms associated with sleep talking?
It is often accompanied by muttering or speaking during sleep. There are times when speaking and muttering is accompanied by moaning, singing and shouting.
What are the causes of sleep talking?
It can occur at any stage of sleep. It is not only when a person is dreaming. Mostly it occurs during the NREM sleep, i.e, Non rapid eye movement sleep. It may be associated with:
Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders.
Medical disorders like febrile illness (fever).
Sleep disorders such as obstructive apnea syndrome, sleep-walking, or REM sleep behavior disorder.
Other factors that affect the behavior of a sleep talker are stress, fever, some medications and it may even be due to substance abuse.
What does the treatment for sleep talking include?
Sleep hygiene - Where the patient is educated to avoid drugs, alcohol and sleep deprivation.
Medications - This program includes teaching the patient about the usage of antidepressants or sleeping pills to promote sleep.
Cognitive behavioral therapy - In this program the patient is provided with effective, long-term strategies to overcome anxiety or stress.
Tips to reduce sleep talking
Reduce stress levels as much as possible.
Do not partake of a heavy meal before bedtime.
Follow a proper sleep routine.
Get proper rest as deficiency of sleep increases somniloquy.
It is advised that when a person is sleep talking, do not try to wake them suddenly. That will cause disorientation and confusion in the mind of the sleep talker. It is believed that more than 50% children and almost 5% adults talk in their sleep. So, it is nothing to be worried about. But if the person shows violent behavior when asleep or screams and shouts, it is best to consult a doctor immediately.
Sleep Disorders in Toddlers
Sleep disorders in toddlers can be very horrible for them, as well as disturbing for the whole family. Fortunately, they are all treatable and go away with time. Here are a few reasons that lead to these disorders and some techniques to deal with them.
Sleep disorders in toddlers can be very horrible for them, as well as disturbing for the whole family. Fortunately, they are all treatable and go away with time. Here are a few reasons that lead to these disorders and some techniques to deal with them.
'Sleeping like a baby' is synonymous with sleeping soundly and
without worries. But do babies always sleep as soundly as we think they
do? Babies, too, may sometimes have disruptive sleeping patterns. Sleep
disorders in toddlers, although differing in severity, are very common.
If your toddler often wakes up in the night, screaming or crying,
terrified or shocked, is clueless/confused about his surroundings or
seems disoriented every time that he wakes up at night, he may be
suffering from a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders in toddlers require
different treatments and treatment methods as compared to adults. The
two main causes of sleep disorders in toddlers are:
Faulty/Defective Genes
An immature Nervous System
These are generally detected by observing abnormalities in Polysomnography or PSG tests conducted on the toddler.
Snoring
Although snoring is often dismissed as a harmless condition, it is far from being that. Even though snoring itself is not harmful, it is an indicator that something is wrong which needs to be addressed. Most times, snoring occurs when toddlers are suffering from a common cold, in which case it is not cause for alarm. But if your toddler is snoring on a regular basis, it could indicate an underlying problem. Snoring could be an indication of a respiratory problem, excessive mucus formation leading to blocked noses causing snoring, OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome), blockages in the respiratory tract, etc. Hence, the sooner it is treated the better.
Night Terrors
Night terrors are also known as pavor nocturnus. These are episodic in nature and occur 90 minutes into sleep. This condition makes the child wake up in the middle of the night and sit bolt upright, due to terror. The child may cry inconsolably for a long time before falling asleep again. You may also observe signs of tachycardia or tachypnea to a certain extent. Night terrors occur between the ages of 3-8. They usually arise from stress or fatigue, which needs to eliminated by careful observation of the child's environment. Night terrors are different from nightmares, and the two should not be confused.
Head Banging and Rocking
Head banging usually makes an appearance around the 1 year mark, and is usually at its worst between the 1st and 2nd years. Although a little head banging/rocking at night is not really unusual and alarming, if it persists for several months without showing any signs of letting up, or if it seen during the day as well, then it needs to be checked out. If it happens only at night, the chances are that your toddler is just soothing himself to sleep. Head banging can be a rhythmic activity that the child requires to help him get to sleep. The 'rocking' motion is comforting for him, and makes him feel safe and secure. To prevent toddlers from head banging, try rocking them more before putting them in bed, singing lullabies, rubbing their backs soothingly, and playing calm and soft music in their room while they are trying to sleep. If after doing this for a few weeks, the head banging/rocking doesn't reduce, consult the doctor.
Sleepwalking and Sleeptalking
Sleepwalking (somnambulism) and sleeptalking (somniloquy) is more frequently seen in boys than in girls. Such disorders make the child sit up in bed with his eyes wide open. Although his eyes are open, the child cannot see. Speech is mumbled and slurred. Sleepwalkers face physical threats, like walking into doors and pillars or falling down a flight of stairs. While intervening with sleepwalkers, parents should refrain from shaking or slapping the child to bring him into a state of consciousness. Maintain a diary of the time your child wakes up, what he/she talks and how long the episode lasts, and then consult a doctor. Once you have an established time, try waking up your child 10 - 15 minutes prior to it, and make him stay awake for sometime.
Bedwetting
Bedwetting is also known as nocturnal enuresis. It is a very common problem in toddlers. It is classified into two types:
Primary Enuresis: This is when your child has never had a "dry spell", and has been bedwetting since infancy. Primary enuresis may have its root in the family history.
Secondary Enuresis: This is when your child has gone through a "dry spell" and has started bedwetting again after having stopped it completely. Secondary enuresis is usually caused due to developmental problems.
Nocturnal sleep enuresis can be solved by making the child use the bathroom before the parents go to bed or limiting fluid intake before sleeping. Alternately, you can also try waking your child up a couple of times at night to make him go to the toilet, so that he has no reason to wet the bed.
Bedwetting is generally caused due to stress or emotional distress. Try figuring out if your child is having any problems, and try to eliminate these problems. If bedwetting still persists by age 10, it is time to go to the doctor.
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea affects 1-3% children. Sleep apnea can be very harmful and potentially fatal if not detected and treated on time. Snoring, breathing through mouth and difficulty in breathing are some of the symptoms of sleep apnea. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids are the main causes of sleep apnea in toddlers. While the child is sleeping at night, the airways may get temporarily blocked, preventing air from reaching the lungs, resulting in mouth-breathing, gasping, and chocking. Allergies can also trigger sleep apnea in children. Sleep apnea in toddlers may lead to problems in growth, learning and behavior. Removal of tonsils/adenoids will provide your child relief from sleep apnea. The other way of dealing with sleep apnea in toddlers is to use continuous positive airway pressure machine or CPAP, which is a type of mask. This mask allows the airway to open up to bring about normal rhythm of breathing. It is very important that this condition be brought to the attention of the doctor immediately.
Secondary Sleep Disturbances
Secondary sleep disturbances are more common in toddlers than the above listed sleep disorders. Some frequently seen examples are:
Night awakenings
Grinding of teeth
Bedtime resistance/Restlessness
Unusual/Uncomfortable sleeping positions
Cycling/Twitching/Jerking during sleep
Night sweats
Most newborn babies cry if they wake up during the night and find comfort only after a parental response. Usually, 60% to 70% of toddlers are able to fall asleep by themselves by the time they are a year old. Toddlers need around 10 hours of sleep on a daily basis. Sleep disorders diminish as the child grows, but if they don't then it is better to seek treatment than to let the problem sort out by itself. Lack of sleep, in itself, can lead to many other problems in toddlers. So timely action is required to ensure that your tiny tot indeed "sleeps like a baby"!
Faulty/Defective Genes
An immature Nervous System
These are generally detected by observing abnormalities in Polysomnography or PSG tests conducted on the toddler.
Snoring
Although snoring is often dismissed as a harmless condition, it is far from being that. Even though snoring itself is not harmful, it is an indicator that something is wrong which needs to be addressed. Most times, snoring occurs when toddlers are suffering from a common cold, in which case it is not cause for alarm. But if your toddler is snoring on a regular basis, it could indicate an underlying problem. Snoring could be an indication of a respiratory problem, excessive mucus formation leading to blocked noses causing snoring, OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome), blockages in the respiratory tract, etc. Hence, the sooner it is treated the better.
Night Terrors
Night terrors are also known as pavor nocturnus. These are episodic in nature and occur 90 minutes into sleep. This condition makes the child wake up in the middle of the night and sit bolt upright, due to terror. The child may cry inconsolably for a long time before falling asleep again. You may also observe signs of tachycardia or tachypnea to a certain extent. Night terrors occur between the ages of 3-8. They usually arise from stress or fatigue, which needs to eliminated by careful observation of the child's environment. Night terrors are different from nightmares, and the two should not be confused.
Head Banging and Rocking
Head banging usually makes an appearance around the 1 year mark, and is usually at its worst between the 1st and 2nd years. Although a little head banging/rocking at night is not really unusual and alarming, if it persists for several months without showing any signs of letting up, or if it seen during the day as well, then it needs to be checked out. If it happens only at night, the chances are that your toddler is just soothing himself to sleep. Head banging can be a rhythmic activity that the child requires to help him get to sleep. The 'rocking' motion is comforting for him, and makes him feel safe and secure. To prevent toddlers from head banging, try rocking them more before putting them in bed, singing lullabies, rubbing their backs soothingly, and playing calm and soft music in their room while they are trying to sleep. If after doing this for a few weeks, the head banging/rocking doesn't reduce, consult the doctor.
Sleepwalking and Sleeptalking
Sleepwalking (somnambulism) and sleeptalking (somniloquy) is more frequently seen in boys than in girls. Such disorders make the child sit up in bed with his eyes wide open. Although his eyes are open, the child cannot see. Speech is mumbled and slurred. Sleepwalkers face physical threats, like walking into doors and pillars or falling down a flight of stairs. While intervening with sleepwalkers, parents should refrain from shaking or slapping the child to bring him into a state of consciousness. Maintain a diary of the time your child wakes up, what he/she talks and how long the episode lasts, and then consult a doctor. Once you have an established time, try waking up your child 10 - 15 minutes prior to it, and make him stay awake for sometime.
Bedwetting
Bedwetting is also known as nocturnal enuresis. It is a very common problem in toddlers. It is classified into two types:
Primary Enuresis: This is when your child has never had a "dry spell", and has been bedwetting since infancy. Primary enuresis may have its root in the family history.
Secondary Enuresis: This is when your child has gone through a "dry spell" and has started bedwetting again after having stopped it completely. Secondary enuresis is usually caused due to developmental problems.
Nocturnal sleep enuresis can be solved by making the child use the bathroom before the parents go to bed or limiting fluid intake before sleeping. Alternately, you can also try waking your child up a couple of times at night to make him go to the toilet, so that he has no reason to wet the bed.
Bedwetting is generally caused due to stress or emotional distress. Try figuring out if your child is having any problems, and try to eliminate these problems. If bedwetting still persists by age 10, it is time to go to the doctor.
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea affects 1-3% children. Sleep apnea can be very harmful and potentially fatal if not detected and treated on time. Snoring, breathing through mouth and difficulty in breathing are some of the symptoms of sleep apnea. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids are the main causes of sleep apnea in toddlers. While the child is sleeping at night, the airways may get temporarily blocked, preventing air from reaching the lungs, resulting in mouth-breathing, gasping, and chocking. Allergies can also trigger sleep apnea in children. Sleep apnea in toddlers may lead to problems in growth, learning and behavior. Removal of tonsils/adenoids will provide your child relief from sleep apnea. The other way of dealing with sleep apnea in toddlers is to use continuous positive airway pressure machine or CPAP, which is a type of mask. This mask allows the airway to open up to bring about normal rhythm of breathing. It is very important that this condition be brought to the attention of the doctor immediately.
Secondary Sleep Disturbances
Secondary sleep disturbances are more common in toddlers than the above listed sleep disorders. Some frequently seen examples are:
Night awakenings
Grinding of teeth
Bedtime resistance/Restlessness
Unusual/Uncomfortable sleeping positions
Cycling/Twitching/Jerking during sleep
Night sweats
Most newborn babies cry if they wake up during the night and find comfort only after a parental response. Usually, 60% to 70% of toddlers are able to fall asleep by themselves by the time they are a year old. Toddlers need around 10 hours of sleep on a daily basis. Sleep disorders diminish as the child grows, but if they don't then it is better to seek treatment than to let the problem sort out by itself. Lack of sleep, in itself, can lead to many other problems in toddlers. So timely action is required to ensure that your tiny tot indeed "sleeps like a baby"!
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